Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Mojisola

Beccatje wrote: »

How cold is too cold??

I've just become the proud mama of three hens..
They've been with us since Saturday and have given us 4 egss so far. Which considering the cold and the move, I find quite impressive.

But with temps plummeting at the moment, and expected to hit -13 at night time in the next few days we are a little worried about them. Can they handle that kind of temps?
They have coop that is high off the ground, and not draughty or anything as far as I can tell.
I've given them a good supply of hay, and they have water and food inside.

Will they be alright?
DH is wanting to put a warmth light in there to keep them cozy.

Once we made our run fox-proof, we stopped shutting them in the house at night. They haven't slept indoors since.

We do have a bigger flock than you - ranging from 10 to 20 at different times - so they can generate more heat and they also choose to roost on the high perches up near the roof in a covered corner. We did try to get them to use the house last winter when the weather was really cold but they seriously objected to going in the house!

If they are in good condition - so not poorly-feathered ex-battery hens - they should be fine.

Gigervamp

What Spirit said. I'd also like to add that you need to make sure they have good ventilation too. I always have the vents opened even in winter.

We're getting another couple of girls to add to our flock on Sunday! A couple of marans, as we love their dark brown eggs. They're our valentines presents to each other, we know how to be romantic! :rotfl:

Collected 7 eggs today. The girls are gradually picking up the pace now.

Beccatje

Thanks for the advice.

The coop is not airtight, but it's not draughty either. I just went to have a looky in and found the three of them happily snuggled with their heads tucked back, snoozing away.

I'm just a protective new mom I guess.. haha.. .. I'll replace the hay for Straw tomorrow. :-) didn't know about that. Their previous owner gave me what she had left.. so I assumed it would be fine.

I am just SO happily excited with my three new girls though.. gosh you should have seen me saturday when we had picked them up. I did happy dances.. and was nearly bursting with excitement.
I've been wanting chooks for years and years and finally it came true...

It's amazing how something as ordinary as an egg suddenly become so very special when it's been laid by your own chickens.. haha
I'm sad I know.. hahahaha

ljonski

If the coop is over concrete this may cause problems. you could put an extra blanket on top of it. And put vaseline on their crowns and wattles to protect v frost bite. Otherwise the hens snuggle up well at night and do keep themselves warm that way. HTH

Beccatje

ljonski wrote: »

If the coop is over concrete this may cause problems. you could put an extra blanket on top of it. And put vaseline on their crowns and wattles to protect v frost bite. Otherwise the hens snuggle up well at night and do keep themselves warm that way. HTH

No it's over earth/dirt. Sort of sheltered in the shadow of the house.

Gigervamp

I understand exactly how you feel Beccatje! Welcome to the world of chicken keeping.

Mojisola

Beccatje wrote: »

The coop is not airtight, but it's not draughty either.

Don't try to make it airtight. Even at night, you need some airflow through the house. Your girls will stay healthier that way.

ionahenor2

One of mine is having a second moult! I covered her in lice powder after the first one as she seemed to shed loads of feathers for ages and I was concerned it could be lice from the Robin that visits their pen.

I nearly got a chicken of fate last week and I was just as excited. A lady called to see if I had lost one of our hens as she had found it near her shop. She needed to rehome it but someone claimed it the evening she was bringing it to us(from an ad in the paper). I don't think it was their chicken though as they lived a mile and a half further out of the village than us. I just hope it wasn't Sunday lunch. How far can a chicken walk in 2 days? I suppose it could have had a lift!

spirit

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Beccatje wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

The coop is not airtight, but it's not draughty either. I just went to have a looky in and found the three of them happily snuggled with their heads tucked back, snoozing away.

I'm just a protective new mom I guess.. haha.. .. I'll replace the hay for Straw tomorrow. :-) didn't know about that. Their previous owner gave me what she had left.. so I assumed it would be fine.

I am just SO happily excited with my three new girls though.. gosh you should have seen me saturday when we had picked them up. I did happy dances.. and was nearly bursting with excitement.
I've been wanting chooks for years and years and finally it came true...

It's amazing how something as ordinary as an egg suddenly become so very special when it's been laid by your own chickens.. haha
I'm sad I know.. hahahaha

You do know that hen keeping is addictive, bet that this time next year you'll have more than 3 :rotfl:

I never tire of watching their hen behaviour, especially the 7 ex batts when I first had them. I've also got 5 hybrids. Bless them, they really enjoyed 'helping' me dig the ground and plant 6 fruit trees at the weekend. :T

Beccatje

My girls gave me three eggs today... I"m absolutely over the moon.

The cold doesn't seem to bother them indeed. They just go about their bussiness as if it's not minus ten outside.. silly critters.
I keep giving them new water though as it was frozen solid at noon after I had given them fresh water at eight this morning..